Page 21 of Before We Fell

Pity, most likely. It was the standard look we got these days, but Lauren didn’t have that in her eyes. No, hers held a hint of sadness that said maybe she did understand.

I was not asking. None of my damn business.

“It’s fine. I’ll be outside if you or Riley need me.”

I turned and strolled out, forcing myself not to slam the sliding door so hard it fell out of the frame like I had the urge to do.

Goddamn women. I’d never understand them.

But they made two things crystal clear. I was failing Riley in some deep, massive way, and I had no idea how to fix it. And getting a hard-on for Riley’s teacher was the last damn thing I needed. Or wanted.

Like the universe gave a shit what I wanted. If it did, it wouldn’t have planted my ass right next to the temptation that was way too young for me in the first place. But damn it if she wasn’t hot as the sun, burning my retinas with her innocent beauty every time I made eye contact with her.

Riley boundedout of the truck, two perfectly done braids bouncing off her back as she ran toward my mom.

“Well,” my mom said, bending down and folding her arms around Riley. “Your hair is so pretty! Did Uncle Noah learn to braid?”

Riley giggled. The sound was pure bliss and my mom’s smile blew wide open.

Her eyes popped and her head jerked up, gaze meeting me as I reached them at the bottom of the porch stairs.

“Miss Frazier did ‘em,” Riley said. She tugged on one braid and leaned in like she was sharing a secret with her grandma. “She can do FrenchandDutch braids.”

They were languages I knew. As far as hairstyles, it was lost to me. But something had changed in Riley this afternoon after Lauren left our house. She’d smiled at me more. And when I suggested she pack a bag for a sleepover at Grandma’s, she’d run to her room and packed so quickly I barely had time to change out of my dusty clothes before she was ready to go.

“Well,” Mom said, shaking her head of brown hair, graying at the temples but nowhere else. Laugh lines dug in at the edges of her eyes as she ran her palm softly over Riley’s cheek. “That’s absolutely wonderful of her. Maybe she’ll teach you how to do them.”

Riley shrugged, braids forgotten as her head turned toward the horse paddock. “Can I go give the horses a snack?”

“Of course you can, but remember to stay out of the stalls until I get there.” Mom’s chin wobble was unmistakable, and tears were forming in her eyes.

We both watched Riley head toward the horse barn, her steps quicker than they’d been in weeks.

“Miss Frazier?”

Yeah. Mom didn’t miss much.

“It’s not what you think.” I brushed a kiss across her cheek. “Her teacher is apparently my back yard neighbor. Showed up this morning to yell at me for waking her up so early in the morning. Got scratched up coming through the trees so I brought her inside so she could clean up.”

“Interesting,” Mom said. Her look was so intense, I fought further explanation. I squinted against the sun as I avoided eye contact with her and focused on the horse arena. A typical white fence wrapped around a dirty arena with several obstacles for the horses. Large blue barrels, jumping posts. It wouldn’t be long before Riley was maneuvering through all of them.

“Not interesting, Mom,” I sighed. “She was inside. Riley woke up and came out. Handed her brush to her teacher and asked her to braid her hair.”

I ran a hand over my face. I hadn’t been able to banish the excited look on Riley’s face all morning as I worked on the addition. Over braids for her hair?

How in the hell was I supposed to know that’d make her so happy?

And what other little things was I missing that would make Riley happier?

I had no clue how to start finding them.

Mom’s hand curled over my shoulder and she leaned into me, resting her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her on instinct. Thirty-five years old and my mom’s hugs still settled me. It’d be pathetic if I didn’t need to feel that grounding force from her.

“You’ll figure it out,” she said softly. “And at least she’s happy today. Be thankful for that, Noah. The rest will fall into place as you learn more about her. And don’t forget that your dad and I are always here to help.”

I kissed the top of my mom’s head and dropped my arms. “Where is Dad, anyway? I wanted to ask him some questions about the addition.”

Mom wagged her finger at me. “Don’t you dare. You ask him a question and he’ll ditch me today, insisting you need his help.”

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